Good news for impatient Zoom-Zoom enthusiasts: Although the 2014 Mazda 6 won’t debut until the Paris show in September, a photo that ostensibly depicts Mazda’s next mid-size competitor was posted to autowp.ru, a Russian car-enthusiast/photo-sharing website. The image then appeared over at Carscoop.

The shadow-drenched car appears to be the same one that Mazda’s been teasing on YouTube, judging by the color and overall presentation. Happily, it seems to hew closely to the look of the Takeri concept, a damn handsome thing and the car which presaged the look of the new 6. We particularly like the chrome strip that defines the lower edge of the grille and extends into the headlamps. It’s bold and characterful, while the overall look is pretty aggressive for the segment, at least in this view. We dig.

The 6, like the CX-5 crossover, will wear Mazda’s Kodo design language and incorporate Skyactiv chassis and engine tech, both quickly becoming staples across the Japanese maker’s lineup. For much more detail on the 2014 Mazda 6, head over to this story.